]]>Looped is an audio & visual journey through the eyes of KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez. Explore the streets, beats and meet the people who make it happen.

—

Jordan Rakei fuses electronic and live sounds on his latest album Wallflower. Originally based in Brisbane and now in London, Rakei delivers songwriting that expresses his dealings with social anxiety; while also pushing sonic and genre boundaries.

On this episode of Looped, we hang with Rakei at a soundcheck prior to a show in Los Angeles.

]]>This past Saturday, we woke up to the very sad news that the Screaming Eagle of Soul aka Charles Bradley had passed away after a battle with stomach cancer.

The man was a powerful energy on stage and in his recordings alike. I was fortunate enough to see him perform a couple times, I loved how tremendously captivating he was on stage, always taking us to church! Though he had a very tough life full of tragic and horrific events, it didn’t stop him from boldly preaching positivity and optimism, while also having a beautiful outlook on life.

Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band

From his debut album at age 62, to his most recent productions, the few albums he released (with the amazing Daptone crew and various collaborators) are considered instant classics by many, including myself. You can hear this powerful soul in every lyric he sang.

]]>Shows This Week: September 25 – October 1, 2017http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/shows-week-september-25-october-1-2017/
Mon, 25 Sep 2017 22:11:01 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54459It’s a new week and with it, here are some live shows on our radar. Check them out below and find KCRW Presents show info here. SHOWS THIS WEEK — September…

]]>Prolific garage-rocker Ty Segall surprise-released a new track today titled, “Alta.” The song fits squarely in his wheelhouse: catchy, crunchy, and it features expert playing courtesy of Mr. Segall and his beloved Freedom Band (Mikal Cronin, Emmett Kelly and others).
Ty Segall – “Alta”

From a press release:

It’s a new day in the world of TySegall, and every truly new day means another truly great song! Captured in gleaming widescreen, “Alta” is a hometown jam that Ty (with his Freedom Band) has been playing at shows all over the place this year.

No word yet on if this is part of a larger release (it was recorded with producer extraordinaire Steve Albini, by the way) but you can stream “Alta” now and be sure to see Ty @ Desert Daze Festival, October 13th.

]]>Rostam Plays New Tunes and Vampire Weekend on MBEhttp://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/rostam-plays-new-tunes-vampire-weekend-mbe/
Mon, 25 Sep 2017 17:01:04 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54426Rostam’s new album has been a long time coming. It’s fair to say he was the principal architect of Vampire Weekend’s sound during his time in the band (he announced…

It’s fair to say he was the principal architect of Vampire Weekend’s sound during his time in the band (he announced he was leaving last year) and has always demonstrated a unique pop sensibility that combines worldly sounds with his orchestral leanings.

For his live set on KCRW, he invited his longtime friends the Calder Quartet to join on strings while also sharing some super special stripped down arrangements. For instance, he opened “Bike Dream” with a harmonica and played it solo on acoustic guitar.

He also sang the only VW song he ever did lead vocals for — “Young Lion“, the very last song off their last record. He also sang a track from Discovery, his band with Wes from Ra Ra Riot.

He told host Jason Bentley this album was “processing all the music I heard in the kitchen as a kid.” He went on to say that the job of a producer is to be a translator and he thinks his early exposure to other languages (French, Persian) set him off in that direction.

He was tight lipped about what’s on the horizon — with Vampire Weekend or other collaborators — but it’s clear he is keeping very busy and we’ll have to respect his wishes not to “jinx” it by discussing it publicly.

]]>A week’s worth of song compiled just for you awaits! First up, it’s LA duo Freedom Fry. Jeb Loy Nichols provides us with a gravelly groove. British siblings Ardyn have new work inspired by a Hitchcock film. Allah-Las are set to play Desert Daze in mid-October. And check out country blues legend R.L. Boyce.

Katy Pearson of the British brother-sister duo Ardyn says, “‘Throwing Stones’ was inspired by feeling very disillusioned, in particular with the current state of politics and unrest in the world. With everything seemingly going a bit haywire, I felt I needed to put that into words. We’d also recently watched The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock which definitely stuck with me, so the song party draws from that film.”

R.L. Boyce is a Country Blues legend you probably never heard of. The 62-year old’s latest recording just took a couple of days in a studio with every song done on the first take giving listeners insight into backyard parties in his hometown of Como, Mississippi. Check out R.L.’s Boogie.

As the members of Allah-Las were preparing their next album, they decided to put together a collection that explored old and new songs they enjoyed. Songs like George Harrison’s Fish on the Sand, Television’s Hard On Love and Kathy Heideman’s The Earth Won’t Hold Me are all tracks they listened to in the studio while working on their albums. We’re proud to offer Allah-Las version of The Earth Won’t Hold Me.

]]>Music For Your Weekendhttp://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/music-for-your-weekend-24/
Fri, 22 Sep 2017 17:49:45 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54412Today is the first day of Autumn, and it even sort of feels like it here in Los Angeles… So with that in mind, let’s take a look back at…

]]>Today is the first day of Autumn, and it even sort of feels like it here in Los Angeles… So with that in mind, let’s take a look back at the summer that was. It seems that we made it through the season without a consensus pop hit – save for maybe “Despacito.” However, that certainly doesn’t mean that there weren’t plenty stone cold summer jams well deserving of your time and attention. Here are a few of my personal favorites.

Flight Facilities – “Arty Boy”

In a perfect world, this would have resoundingly been THE song of the summer, not just for this summer but many summers to come. In reality, this pure ray of aural sunshine doesn’t even seem to have reached the ubiquity level of Flight Facilities’ break out single “Crave You.” It’s not too late though! Spin it now, and let the deliciously smooth Sade vocal vibes carry you through the non-Summer months ahead.

Kelela – “LMK”

This one is less an immediate dance floor killer, and more a slow burn. Perfect for backyard barbeques, coastal drives, and pretty much any other laid back, hang out scenario you can imagine. Speaking of perfect laid back, hang out scenarios – Kelela is part of Solange’s Cosmic Journey happening this Sunday night at the Hollywood Bowl. It’s the last night of KCRW’s World Festival, the full line-up is spectacular, and tickets are still available!

Poolside – “Strange Overtones”

The very fact of their name being Poolside gives this local DJ/production duo a major advantage when one is considering songs of the summer. This advantage is well deserved though. Poolside appeared on the scene years ago with their signature “Daytime Disco” sound fully formed. All this time later, it remains as solid and satisfying as ever, particularly on this cover of David Byrne and Brian Eno’s “Strange Overtones,” from their summer release very appropriately entitled Heat.

]]>Show #229: Evergreens — The Music I Love (Part 2)http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/show-229-evergreens-music-love-part-2/
Fri, 22 Sep 2017 13:00:32 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54370Listening to music has always been such an amazing, exciting, and rich experience for me that sometimes, rather than present another new releases program, I just want to share the…

]]>
Listening to music has always been such an amazing, exciting, and rich experience for me that sometimes, rather than present another new releases program, I just want to share the music that I’ve loved over the years. I featured a selection of these evergreens on a show earlier this month, and we continue with that theme for this week’s show. Each of the twelve songs in today’s playlist has a back story and a place close to my heart. I love them dearly, and I hope you enjoy them, too.

We begin with music from 15th century Andalusian Spain, which before the Christian Reconquista of 1492, embraced European polyphony, Moorish modes, Jewish chant, and African rhythms. These ingredients combined to create a rich musical brew utterly different from the Gregorian chant in the rest of Europe. The Spanish soprano Montserrat Figueras is one of the greatest early music (i.e. pre-Renaissance) singers of all time.

The next track from contemporary Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan is based on a 10th century religious song from Armenia called “Havoun Havoun” (“The Bird was Awake”). It features one of the most beautiful female voices I have ever heard—the soprano JenniNazaryan.

We then hear a spiritual song by Norwegian pianist and composer Ola Gjeilo, who now lives in the U.S. The song “Ubi Caritas” is performed as part of the Christian tradition of the washing of feet on Holy Thursday.

Quincy Jones ran out of money on a European tour in the early 1960’s and decided (why not?) to spend some time in Paris. He met singer-songwriter-television host Henri Salvador, who had written a beautiful love song called “Soleil de Minuit” (“Midnight Sun”). Q took it home, orchestrated it, and picked Sarah Vaughan to sing it. I love this song as well as the original French version from Salvador’s 1962 album Jazze!

Another love song follows, one that has probably been played at thousands of weddings since it was first released in the 1950’s. The Flamingos‘ “I Only Have Eyes for You” is the ultimate romantic doo-wop song. Doo-wop pop vocal music is special to me for the way it brings musicians of all backgrounds together—Puerto Ricans, African-Americans, Italians, Jews. It was a joint musical exercise if there ever was one.

Next up we have the inimitable Slim Gaillard. I heard that Ronald and Nancy Reagan used to go see Slim at Hollywood night clubs all the time, and had memorized all the lyrics (o-vouty, ooo-roonie, McVouty, etc). This particular CD includes quite a few of the great Gaillard songs, every one a gem. This Verve reissue is a must-have. Another funny song called “No Shoes” comes next courtesy of the vocal group The Roches. It spins a tale about people’s woes that devolve from the merely unfortunate to the tragically unfortunate.

Freddy Martin assumed the alias of Félix Figueroa to record his 1947 song, “Pico and Sepulveda.” The song is named after two main L.A. thoroughfares, which were in turn named in honor of Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of California, and the prominent Sepúlveda family from the early days of California. The version I feature was taken from a Dr. Demento Novelty Song box set, but otherwise is very hard to find. Oingo Boingo covered it later, but this is the rare original version.

Next we hear one of my favorite blues crooners, Bobby “Blue” Bland. He has been called the master of the revenge song, and I suppose this tune fits the bill even though it’s “revenge-lite.” The song “Farther Up The Road” is mostly about justice and karma in romance.

We wrap up this dozen-song playlist with three heavyweights: John Coltrane, Joe Zawinul, and Tito Puente. Each artist is a genius—Coltrane with his incredible improvisations, Zawinul with his sublime piano and keyboard virtuosity and modernism, and Tito “El Rey” Puente with his arrangements and timbales mastery. Joe Zawinul grew up outside of Vienna, Austria. He watched the film Stormy Weather a dozen times and decided he had to come to New York. Three weeks after his ship arrived, he abandoned his Berklee College of Music scholarship for a gig with Dinah Washington. Tito Puente grew up in Spanish Harlem and was a musical prodigy. He left New York City to serve in World War II as the bandleader on the Navy ship U.S.S. Santee, and was so beloved by the captain and crew that they wouldn’t let him off the ship after his tour of duty. He stayed on throughout the war, and sailed on the Navy ship into Tokyo Bay for the official surrender ceremony in September 1945.

]]>As the days get shorter and summer transitions into fall, so too do our musical tastes. Today we bring you a playlist for your upcoming Otoño. It’s filled with jams that transport us back to good memories of previous falls with plenty of musica-indie classics.

It’s also a good time to slow down the bpms for time of reflection, as the Latin world is hurting from hurricane & earthquake damage (learn how you can help here).

]]>KCRW Presents: Gearing up for Rocktoberhttp://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/kcrw-presents-gearing-rocktober/
Wed, 20 Sep 2017 21:49:55 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54345Is there such a thing as too many shows? October is filled with options, up to three or four on some nights, and we’ve confirmed two more October concerts since…

]]>Is there such a thing as too many shows? October is filled with options, up to three or four on some nights, and we’ve confirmed two more October concerts since you and I were last together. Here’s a list (!) to keep track:

Music Tastes Good at Marina Green Park in Long Beach is next weekend and it’s going to be a great festival highlighting food as well as music. Star chefs from New Orleans will be cooking up delicious meals that showcase the culinary delights of NOLA. On the music side, due to a family issue, Bomba Estereo will no longer be able to perform at the festival. Rhye will be taking their place and will play alongside Ween, Tune-Yards, Sleater-Kinney, Big Freedia, Juana Molina and lots more.

* If you want to know what giveaways we have scheduled every day of the year, follow me on Twitter (@acherrymary) for daily updates. I’m fun.

And now your 15 day music planner via our KCRW Presents show calendar:

Friday, September 22, Tokimonsta at the Wiltern
Friday, September 22 – Sunday, September 24, Desert Stars Festival at Pappy & Harriet’s
Saturday, September 23, Dan Croll at the Teragram Ballroom
Wednesday, September 27, Bonobo at the Greek
Saturday, September 30 – Sunday, October 1, Music Tastes Good at Marina Green Park in Long Beach
Saturday, September 30 – Sunday, October 1, CRSSD Festival at San Diego’s Waterfront Park
Sunday, October 1, Robyn Hitchcock & Yo La Tengo perform “Black Snake Diamond Role” at the Regent
Tuesday, October 3, Big Thief at the Bootleg

]]>Introducing Slingshothttp://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/introducing-slingshot/
Wed, 20 Sep 2017 18:05:07 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54306KCRW’s thrilled to be part of the first Slingshot music experience with NPR Music and VuHaus stations across the country. Utilizing our music platforms – we’ll highlight three rising artists:…

]]>KCRW’s thrilled to be part of the first Slingshot music experience with NPR Music and VuHaus stations across the country. Utilizing our music platforms – we’ll highlight three rising artists: Lo Moon, Big Thief and Jamila Woods.

For videos, interviews and live events visit the Slingshot hub @ npr.org/slingshot and get to know the artists below.

Big Thief are Adrianne Lenker (guitar/vocals), Buck Meek (guitar), Max Oleartchik (bass) and James Krivchenia (drums). The Brooklyn-based quartet’s newest release, Capacity, comes just one year after its stunning debut, Masterpiece, brought Big Thief in-the-know audiences and critical acclaim. The expectations set by Masterpiece were easily met by Capacity, garnering ecstatic support from the music press, including NPR, Pitchfork and Rolling Stone, fellow musicians such as Jeff Tweedy, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Father John Misty, and simply everyday fans of Lenker’s quietly confessional and revelatory songwriting. NPR Music’s Bob Boilen called the song “Mary” “the most beautiful song of 2017.” Big Thief have appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, and toured extensively, playing hundreds of shows in the past two years in the US, UK, Europe, Asia and Australia. They will bring an extraordinary year to a close with one more trip around the world.

Lo Moon are a Los Angeles-based band comprised of Matt Lowell (vocals/guitar), Crisanta Baker (bass/keyboards) and Sam Stewart (guitar) whose sound meets at the intersection of artists like The XX and Talk Talk. With just two songs out in the world, the band is already one of the most talked-about new bands in Los Angeles’s indie scene. The trio have received early accolades from The New York Times, V Magazine, KCRW, the Los Angeles Times, and more. Having opened for the likes of Phoenix, Glass Animals, The Lemon Twigs, Air, London Grammar, and more, Lo Moon are currently putting the finishing touches to their debut album with producers Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie) and Francois Tetaz (Gotye).

Jamila Woods‘ cultural lineage – from her love of Lucille Clifton’s poetry to cherished letters from her grandmother to the infectious late-’80s post-punk of The Cure – structure the progressive, delicate and minimalist soul of her debut album, HEAVN (No. 27 on NPR’s Best 50 Albums Of 2016). Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, Woods grew up in a family of music lovers. Now a frequent guest vocalist in the hip-hop, jazz and soul world, it took a surprise poetry class with a high school arts program for Jamila to finally find what is already a once-in-a-generation voice. In HEAVN, you’ll find the bits and pieces of the past and present that make Jamila: family, the city of Chicago, self-care, and the black women she calls friends. Her poetry studies continued in college and in her professional career with Young Chicago Authors. True and pure in its construction and execution, her music is the best representation of Jamila herself: strong in her roots, confident in her ideas, and attuned to the people, places and things shaping her world.

]]>The Original “Autumn Leaves”http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/the-original-autumn-leaves/
Wed, 20 Sep 2017 03:52:20 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54279It’s hard to believe that autumn will be here in just a few days, but the fading light of dusk has already begun to signal the end of summer. Some…

]]>It’s hard to believe that autumn will be here in just a few days, but the fading light of dusk has already begun to signal the end of summer. Some people love fall, especially in places where the autumn foliage explodes into a rhapsody of reds and oranges. Others lament the passing of long, summer days and warm, sunny weather. Some of the poets I read in school equated the coming of autumn, cold weather, and snow with impending death. That’s probably why we find so many bittersweet songs about the fall season. My previous shows in 2015 and 2016 featured seasonal playlists, so I thought I’d focus on one of my favorite autumnal songs this time around—the classic “Autumn Leaves.”

Interestingly, many English variations of the lyrics exist as loose translations of the original poem. Johnny Mercer penned the most popular English version, recorded by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and others. In general, I find that the English versions lack the emotional depth of Prévert’s original. Somehow, the French version sung by Yves Montand has always struck me as darker and sadder. Listen and compare Montand’s “Les Feuilles Mortes” with Nat Cole’s recording of “Autumn Leaves.“ (Cole also recorded a version in French, but his French accent is even worse than his Spanish one, unfortunately.)

Now listen to Nat Cole’s version of “Autumn Leaves” in English:

I found a pretty good English translation of the Prévert’s original lyrics here:

“Autumn Leaves”

Oh I would like you so much to remember The joyful days when we were friends. At that time, life was more beautiful And the sun burned more than it does today. Fallen leaves can be picked up by the shovelful. You see, I have not forgotten… Fallen leaves can be picked up by the shovelful, So can memories and regrets. And the north wind takes them Into the cold night of oblivion. You see, I have not forgotten The song you used to sing me.

Compare the above to Johnny Mercer’s lyrics below, which connote wistfulness and longing, but not the somber feeling of the original French version:

The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of red and gold I see your lips, the summer kisses The sunburnt hands I used to hold Since you went away the days grow long And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song But I miss you most of all my darling When autumn leaves start to fall Since you went away the days grow long And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song But I miss you most of all my darling When autumn leaves start to fall

]]>Looped is an audio & visual journey through the eyes of KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez. Explore the streets, beats and meet the people who make it happen.

—

DJ Prince Paul is a hip-hop legend. Producing De La Soul and collaborating with big names on his own projects (Handsome Boy Modeling School and Gravediggaz) – he’s a veritable who’s who of the hip-hop scene. On this episode of Looped, Anthony Valadez goes deep with the New York icon.

]]>Track Premiere: Sure Sure – “Hands Up Head Down”http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/track-premiere-sure-sure-hands-head/
Mon, 18 Sep 2017 21:11:13 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54283Local band Sure Sure have been around for a while, steadily building and refining their stellar indie rock sound. The hard work has paid off as their killer single from…

]]>Local band Sure Sure have been around for a while, steadily building and refining their stellar indie rock sound. The hard work has paid off as their killer single from earlier this year, “Friends” earned them quite a bit of attention from a few folks that any musician should be honored to call fans. Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste added the song to a Spotify playlist shared with his own fans, Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend) tweeted about it, and our own Garth Trinidad put it into heavy rotation on his nightly show.

The new single, “Hands Up, Head Down,” is by far my favorite thing I’ve heard from this band. It contains one of the most ear catching melodies, and snazzy piano lines that I’ve encountered in ages. It’s as if it was designed specifically to make me smile, and to make you smile, and to make anyone that enters its path smile. Not surprisingly, the band has this to say about the song’s actual origins:

“We really needed a song with its own dance move. Here’s how it goes: you put your hands up, keep your head down, and then bob to the beat like a zombie. You’ll see it in the upcoming lyric video.”

So that’s something to eagerly anticipate! In the meantime, you can practice the move as with the below track premiere. Suddenly your Tuesday just got a lot more fun, huh?

Sure Sure will be playing the Satellite this Friday (9/22) along with Karen Kilgariff (!!) – hopefully we’ll see you there. This band is incredible live.

]]>The Week Ahead: Today’s Top Tune 9.18 – 9.22.17http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/week-ahead-todays-top-tune-9-18-9-22-17/
Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:12:52 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54088​Here’s what’s in store for Today’s Top Tune this week! Start the week with Ibeyi, the French-Cuban twins that Beyonce loves. Rediscover the London-based band CousteauX. Spend the last day of summer with Matt Pond PA​.…

]]>​Here’s what’s in store for Today’s Top Tune this week! Start the week with Ibeyi, the French-Cuban twins that Beyonce loves. Rediscover the London-based band CousteauX. Spend the last day of summer with Matt Pond PA​. Check out an instrumental track by Luna. If you’re a fan of John Martyn take a chance on Karl Blau.

Electronic-soul sisters Ibeyi integrate elements of their French-Cuban heritage and Yoruba culture into their music. Away, Away takes us into a world where a girl looks out the window on a world falling apart and does nothing about it until she begins to sing.

​After a ten year hiatus, singer Liam McKahey and songwriter/musician Davey Ray Moor of the London-based Cousteau re-form as CousteauX. A band KCRW championed in the early 00s, Costeau’s romantic song of yearning The Last Good Day of the Year became a pop hit. We’re thrilled by their return to majestic darkness on Memory Is a Weapon.

This week beloved indie ​darlings Luna return with two simultaneous releases: an LP of covers, featuring work by a slew of great artists, AND an instrumental EP of Luna originals. Dean Wareham says, “The instrumental EP was kind of an afterthought and most of these instrumentals grew out of little ideas that Sean or I had recorded on our iPhones’ Voice Memo app. GTX3 was named for the fuzz pedal that Sean Eden was playing around with the day he wrote the song.”

​One of the hardest things to do every year is say goodbye to the lazy days of summer.​ On the last day of the season we turn to Matt Pond PA which has have released a dozen albums, and has decided that this will be its last full length LP. Don’t worry. The band’s not leaving us entirely. It will still make music and share it. For now, we bid farewell with the title track to Still Summer.

​A couple of years ago, Karl Blau put out a lush album filled with Country-Soul-tinged covers. For his new recording, Blau sets out with original material ​spotlighting his multi-instrumental prowess and his gift for touching hearts. Today’s Top Tune reminds us of the late John Martyn. The song is Slow Children.

]]>Video Premiere: Noah Slee – “Radar”http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/video-premiere-noah-slee-radar/
Mon, 18 Sep 2017 13:25:06 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54262The song “Radar” from rising artist Noah Slee is an instant favorite among KCRW DJs. The track appears on his debut album Otherland, which was just released August 25th. Noah has…

]]>The song “Radar” from rising artist Noah Slee is an instant favorite among KCRW DJs. The track appears on his debut album Otherland, which was just released August 25th. Noah has an interesting upbringing, as he is originally from Tonga, raised in New Zealand, and now resides in Berlin (upon listening, you can hear a very global sound).

Here’s Noah on the track: “Radar is paying homage to all the dope musicians paving away at their creations. Radar started as an acoustic guitar song that then became this upbeat tune that no matter how often I’ve already heard it (shot a music video, heard it x1000000) I still wanna dance. Which is important…..music + dance = life”

Noah’s musical inspirations range from Bob Marley and Thom Yorke to Fela Kuti and Billie Holiday; and the album reflects those influences through his own storytelling about challenges and self discovery.

]]>The Story Behind Michel Legrand’s 1958 Jazz Sessionshttp://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/the-story-behind-michel-legrand-jazz-sessions-1958/
Fri, 15 Sep 2017 19:55:04 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54131It was the summer of 1958 when Miles Davis arrived at the great New York temple of sound, Columbia Records’s 30th Street Studios. He hadn’t decided whether to take part in recording…

]]>It was the summer of 1958 when Miles Davis arrived at the great New York temple of sound, Columbia Records’s 30th Street Studios. He hadn’t decided whether to take part in recording the first of three sessions by a young French composer named Michel Legrand. Legrand was quite popular at the time, having already released some MOR (middle-of-the-road, as in easy listening), Parisian and Brazilian-themed records for the label—the type that Miles would’ve walked away from in a New York minute. And though Miles didn’t know it at the time, Legrand sported serious credentials. The young composer had studied at the Conservatoire de Paris and taken lessons from the great Nadia Boulanger. His charts were as complex as any that Gil Evans had ever penned, maybe even more so. Legrand may have come from a classical music background, but he was an ardent lover of jazz.

Legrand recounted their session in June of 1958, saying, “Miles was then at the top of New York jazz. Everyone said to me: ‘He will come to the meeting and stand near the door, keeping his trumpet in his closed case. He will listen for five minutes, and if he likes music, he will sit down, open his case, and play. If he does not like, he will leave and he will never again contact you.’ I was so afraid that I had flare-ups of sweat! I started rehearsing with the orchestra. The door opened, and Miles listened by the door for five minutes. Then he sat down, opened his case and began to play. After the first catch, he asked me, ‘Michel, is my game [playing] suitable?’ That is how it all began.” (Source: Wikipedia)

One of the alternate covers of Legrand Jazz featuring Miles Davis that fans will come across when searching for the original.

The Legrand Jazz sessions had been organized as a payment of sorts to Legrand, who had not yet been paid for some earlier works that he’d recorded for Columbia. As recompense, the label offered him a New York date at its studios with his choice of repertoire and musicians. Ahead of his recording date, Legrand arrived early in the City to work on completing all of his arrangements before his first session. This would be his chance to impress the crème de la crème of New York’s jazz scene. Everybody who was anybody showed up that day—31 musicians in all. (The group of artists who assembled reminds me of the iconic photo and film, A Great Day in Harlem.)

Legrand Jazz is a must for any jazz fan’s music library, but its provenance is like Ancestry.com on steroids. When searching for the original recording, one encounters 32 different versions, multiple album covers, and different labels! Which begs the question: “Will the real Legrand Jazz please stand up?”

Finally, it has. Los Angeles-based audiophile label Impex Records recently reissued the original album. Sourced from the original master tapes, it’s been cut on the all-tube Bernie Grundman mastering and cutting system, and put on whisper-silent 180-gram vinyl by RTI’s Rick Hashimoto. The album comes packaged as a gatefold LP with photos on the inside that show Legrand at work. Kudos to Impex’s Robert Sliger for the album art and Robert Donnelly, who oversaw production. This Impex reissue of Legrand Jazz is a dream come true for both jazz fans and audiophiles. It is truly the ne plus ultra of jazz reissue, so don’t let this one slip by you.

]]>Asgeir Covers Heart-Shaped Boxhttp://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/asgeir-covers-heart-shaped-box/
Fri, 15 Sep 2017 18:44:23 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54246Icelandic musician Asgeir grew up in a small village in a family where everyone played an instrument. The youngest of the group, he eventually turned to music as well. Flash…

Icelandic musician Asgeir grew up in a small village in a family where everyone played an instrument. The youngest of the group, he eventually turned to music as well.

Flash forward to the release of his debut album in 2012, which broke all records to become Iceland’s fastest selling debut album by a domestic artist. An estimated 10 per cent of Iceland’s population of 323,002 bought it — closer to 11 percent now — and he outsold the first offerings of Bjork and Sigur Ros.

Two years later, he released a version of his debut in English to start growing his international audience. His sophomore album — “Afterglow” — was released this Spring and includes songs in both Icelandic and English.

As with his first album, his father, a poet, contributed lyrics to the album. His brother also offered some words and joined him in studio for our live session. In addition to new songs, he played his biggest hit yet, “King and Cross“, as well as a STUNNING solo cover of Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” (watch the cover below).

This week we remember Holger Czukay of the German experimental rock group Can, who passed away last week at the age of 79. We’ll also spotlight Popol Vuh, a similar German group that rose to prominence around the same time as Can in the late 1960’s. Both these groups led the “Krautrock” movement in Germany during the 1970’s.

Multi-instrumentalist Czukay (pronounced CHOO-kai) and keyboardist Irmin Schmidt together founded Can in 1969. Other members of the group included drummer Jaki Liebezeit, guitarist MichaelKaroli, and vocalist Malcolm Mooney. The band’s name stood for “communism, anarchism, nihilism”—a name perhaps reflecting the turbulent era of the late 60’s and early 70’s. Although the group never became famous in the U.S., it nevertheless influenced many better known groups such as Einstürzende Neubauten (Collapsing Buildings), Public Image Ltd, Talking Heads, Sonic Youth, and others.

Czukay worked in a radio repair shop as a teenager growing up in Berlin. In addition to learning about electronics and how to repair them, he studied the ambient sounds of radio broadcasts and would later incorporate shortwave radio sounds into Can’s recordings. His early work experience also taught Czukay how to modify instruments to make them sound different, creating new and unusual sounds. Can’s innovative use of tape loops and other mixing technology of the times likely provided inspiration to artists like Brian Eno. The group scored their first #1 hit on the German pop charts with “Spoon,” a quirky TV theme song in the early 1970’s wherein the group mixed a drum machine along with live drums.

We begin the show with Can’s “Persian Love,” which I first heard on a Womad LP produced by Peter Gabriel back in the early 1980’s. The song remains wonderfully odd. We also hear Can’s adaptation of the Chinese national anthem on the track “Der Osten Ist Rot” (“The East is Red”).

Next we check out a 1980’s collaboration between Czukay, bassist Jah Wobble and U2’s The Edge called “Hold On to Your Dreams” from an E.P. on Island Records U.K. (Sorry about the skips, but I wanted you to hear it anyway.) We then hear an instrumental track from Can’s keyboardist Irmin Schmidt from his vinyl album Filmmusic #1 on Spoon Records, which was formed in 1979 to release the music of Can and its members. Schmidt scored the track “Der Tote Bin Ich” for a 1979 German TV movie of the same name.

Also prominent in the Krautrock universe, the group Popol Vuh was named after a Guatemalan manuscript recounting a creation myth. I recently re-watched Werner Herzog’s amazing movie Aguirre, the Wrath of God, a crazy and outlandish movie if there ever was one. In the film, Klaus Kinski leads a doomed expedition to the Amazon to find the mythical land of gold, El Dorado. The strange music by Popul Vuh is heard in jungle and nature scenes as the expedition falls apart. We listen to the track “Aguirre I (L’crime di rei)” from the movie’s soundtrack. Similar to Can, Popul Vuh creates odd distortions and early electronic sounds—all pre-digital soundscapes. We wrap up the show with a more recent release by Popol Vuh called “Tears of Concrete,” from the CD City Raga.

]]>Music For Your Weekendhttp://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/music-for-your-weekend-23/
Thu, 14 Sep 2017 18:51:03 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54222It’s probably a safe bet that if you’re reading this right now, you are a fan of KCRW. You enjoy the fact that us DJs have the opportunity to play…

]]>It’s probably a safe bet that if you’re reading this right now, you are a fan of KCRW. You enjoy the fact that us DJs have the opportunity to play what we love! This freedom isn’t something we take for granted and it’s all made possible with YOUR support. As we enter the third day of our fall membership drive, we’d love for you to continue your support and renew your membership. Or perhaps, if you aren’t a member yet, now is the perfect time to get off the sidelines and become a monthly member today (you can do that here); thank you!

Now that you’re guilt free here’s some new music to check out this weekend.

Tokimonsta – “No Way” feat. Isaiah Rashad, Joey Purp and Ambré

Jennifer Lee, better known as Tokimonsta was diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal brain disease called Moyamoya at the end of 2015. After two successful brain surgeries, not only did she lose the ability speak, she also lost the ability to create music. In fact, in an interview with Pitchfork, Lee said the first time she heard music post surgery, “I remember being like, “Ooh, this is weird! This is metallic, harsh nonsense to me.” Well, she eventually regained her ability to speak, walk and comprehend music and has a new album coming out on Oct 6th. Lune Rouge is both a reclamation of her talent and an example of the power of human will. Tokimonsta has been a fixture on our airwaves for many years now so we are all very happy she’s back and healthy. Check out the latest single from the forthcoming album.

GENESEA – “Love You Better”

LA duo GENESEA consists of producer Itai Shapira and vocalist Kadhja Bonet. Itai has been a fixture in the LA music scene for well over a decade now and while Kadhja is still a relatively new name to many, she has quickly become a KCRW favorite. Itai brings a wealth of experience having worked with everyone from Richard Rudolph to Van Hunt and is currently part of another KCRW favorite, the band Rhye. Kadhja, simply put, has the voice of an angel. She is one of my favorite contemporary singers. As a solo act she both writes and sings as if she grew up in Laurel Canyon in the 70s. With GENESEA, the two combine their talents to create a seductive, future-soul outfit reminiscent of Little Dragon and Kelela. Check out the world premiere of their latest single “Love You Better” which dropped today.

Moses Sumney – “Indulge Me”

I can’t get enough of Moses Sumney. We can’t get enough of Moses Sumney. So when he announced his highly anticipated debut full-length a couple of months ago, all of us here at KCRW began to salivate. The latest single “Indulge Me” only reinforces our audio desires. It’s a sweet, delicate, pretty, ode to old lovers. Take a look at the visuals for the latest offering from the forthcoming, Aromanticism, due out next Friday, Sept 22nd; just ahead of his performance at KCRW’s final World Festival Concert this summer at the Hollywood Bowl on Sun, Sept 24th. Also on the bill: Solange, Blood Orange, Kelela and KING.

]]>Track Premiere: Angus & Julia Stone – “Oakwood”http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/track-premiere-angus-julia-stone-oakwood/
Wed, 13 Sep 2017 21:15:12 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54196Today we are back with a new single from the Australian sibling duo Angus & Julia Stone called “Oakwood.” The song starts off with a fun, driving beat, as Angus…

]]>Today we are back with a new single from the Australian sibling duo Angus & Julia Stone called “Oakwood.” The song starts off with a fun, driving beat, as Angus effortlessly skips through his verses with Julia’s calm and mesmerizing voice layered underneath.

Here’s Angus on the track:

“It’s basically a story of two kids lying on the roof of their car, watching the stars, drinking beers & getting high. High on all the good stuff in life. They’re talking about the lovers that they’ve had & where, now, the world has them headed.”

Previously working with producers, the duo decided to self-produce the new album from their home farm in Australia (where they also wrote all the songs together). “It was quite magical, because Angus and I have never spent that much time together, just the two of us,” says Julia of the recording process.

Their new album Snow drops tomorrow and they are selling out their North American tour (w/ a stop in LA @ the Fonda 12/6).

]]>Track Premiere: The Marías – “Déjate Llevar”http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/track-premiere-marias-dejate/
Wed, 13 Sep 2017 17:41:28 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54151Today’s featured band is no stranger to the KCRW airwaves. Los Angeles-based artist The Marías caught the ears of Chris Douridas and Anne Litt back in 2016 when they self-released an…

]]>Today’s featured band is no stranger to the KCRW airwaves. Los Angeles-based artist The Marías caught the ears of Chris Douridas and Anne Litt back in 2016 when they self-released an early demo of the sexy mid-tempo single, “I Don’t Know You.”

In anticipation of this EP, The Marías will be releasing their latest single this Friday on all music platforms; and we managed to score an advance premiere of it right here for you on the KCRW music blog!

Déjate Llevar is a lounge worthy track that ushers you into sultry tranquility while emphasizing their brilliance to create music in both English & Spanish. Take a listen!

]]>Looped: Releases On the Radarhttp://blogs.kcrw.com/music/2017/09/looped-releases-radar/
Wed, 13 Sep 2017 01:02:25 +0000http://blogs.kcrw.com/music/?p=54167Looped is an audio & visual journey through the eyes of KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez. Explore the streets, beats and meet the people who make it happen. — This episode of…

]]>Looped is an audio & visual journey through the eyes of KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez. Explore the streets, beats and meet the people who make it happen.

—

This episode of Looped, Anthony shares some of his latest digs that he’s fired up about. Get to know NYC emcee Wiki, Norway’s Charlotte Dos Santos and everyone’s discopunk favorites, LCD Soundsystem. You’ll hear all of them on the dance floor sooner rather than later, so get familiar!

]]>The iconic soul label Stax Records celebrates its 60th anniversary honoring historic Soulsville, USA in Memphis with a year’s worth of new hit compilations. Today’s Top Tune joins in on the festivities as we turn to a full week’s worth of fantastic songs you’ll recognize, including tracks by Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, William Bell, Otis Redding and Carla Thomas.

In 1971 Isaac Hayes wrote and recorded a song that would change his life. The Theme from Shaft catapulted the artist to international stardom and garnered him the honor of an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Hayes also became the first African-American to win that honor as well as being the first recipient to have both written and performed the winning song. In fact, Hayes had only agreed to write the song after one of the producers consented to give him an audition for the lead role. Since then the Theme from Shaft has become one of the most recognizable theme songs in cinema history.

Originally recorded by the Gospel family band The Staple Singers back in 1972, I’ll Take You There became a hit as Mavis Staples invited listeners to a call-and-response chorus and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Written by Stax co-founder Al Bell and backed by the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, it became one of the greatest songs of all time, and topped the charts again in 1991 when Salt-N-Pepa sampled it.

An architect of the Stax sound, William Bell penned many classics, including You Don’t Miss Your Water and Born under a Bad Sign. He also wrote the poignant Tribute to a King, a farewell to Otis Redding, and the R& B hit that we focus on today, I Forgot to Be Your Lover.

Mr. Pitiful, penned by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper guitarist of the Stax Records house band, was written in response to a radio deejay who thought Otis Redding sounded pitiful when recording ballads. The idea came to Cropper in the shower. Recorded in 10 minutes and initially released as a B-side, it was later the most successful song on the 1965 album The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads.

​Crowned the Queen of Memphis Soul, Carla Thomas came to fame via Stax Records in the 60s. One of her big hits, B-A-B-Y, climbed the charts in 1966. The song was co-written by Isaac Hayes and the Grammy-winning songwriter David Porter. It was recently featured in the 2017 film Baby Driver.